An article published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience (2008 July;9(7):568-78) presented a review of over 160 studies and found that omega-3 fatty acids beneficial for learning and memory. The article also found that folic acid is an important nutrient for the brain. Other research appearing in the July 7, 2008 issue of the FASEB Journal (The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) found that a combination of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid), uridine and choline improved memory and learning in gerbils. Choline is a B vitamin that is important in brain chemistry and uridine is a substance that helps with carbohydrate metabolism. Uridine in found in various foods like brewers yeast, tomatoes, fish, eggs and beets.
The research took place at MIT and the gerbils were supplemented with either two or three of the above nutrients. The researchers compared performance of the animals in memory tests with a control group that received no supplementation. They also measured the level of phospholipids in the brain (as a way to measure potential performance). The gerbils that received all three supplements had up to 70% more phospholipid in their brains and better memory performance when compared to the control group.
